With Teeven Out, Dutch Online in Doubt

The resignation of Dutch State Secretary for Justice Fred Teeven (l.) could jeopardize the future of the Dutch Remote Gambling Act , which he established. Teeven and Netherlands Justice Minister Ivo Opselten have reportedly stepped down for returning seized money to a drug dealer.

Dutch State Secretary for Justice Fred Teeven, who authored a plan to reform the Dutch gaming market, has resigned from his position, making the future of the legislation uncertain.

According to multiple news reports, Teeven and Netherlands Justice Minister Ivo Opselten were forced to resign due to their involvement in a 15-year old case in which money seized from a drug dealer was returned to the man.

A member of the Dutch conservative liberal party VVD, Teeven has been a strong supporter of legal online gaming in the Netherlands.

National and international operators this month announced that they had formed a regulatory body, the Netherlands Gaming Platform, in order to improve communications, advertising standards and best practices for operators targeting Dutch consumers.